A/N:
After several years of hardships, the past days have proven to be an even bigger challenge globally than what most of us have endured in our lifetimes. Entertainment can seem frivolous at such a time, and my motivation to create content certainly has been paralyzed over the last days. This being said, I know that sometimes fiction for evasion's sake can be of great help for people who are facing serious struggles, and while I doubt everyone will want to change focus to something else, it's possible some people might really need this right now.
We don't know how this chaos will impact us all from here on. It's really difficult to make any judgments in those regards considering how unpredictable many factors have been. Whether these conflicts are brought to an end quickly, or they're prolonged for longer than anticipated, I still intend to continue posting chapters and carrying this story to term as best I can. To any readers who are impacted by the current events far more directly than I am, I sincerely hope you can do your best to take care of yourselves and your families through this dark moment. Cherish the good and bright things in life when everything seems bleak and hopeless. I can't do much for you as I am, but in case stories can get your minds off reality for a little while and help you retain some sense of normalcy, I hope at least this one chapter can be of some service in giving you something else to focus on so you're not overwhelmed by what's happening right now.
Stay strong, stay as safe as you can be, and take care.
That day began like most others had… only, a few hours earlier than usual. Azula had deliberately woken at the very break of dawn, and she had instructed her maids to help her prepare for the day: she wouldn't have breakfast at home, she would merely eat at Sokka's house along with him and Song, perhaps even Rui Shi, if he happened to be there. Naturally, her orders were heeded: her clothes were laid out for her to dress up in, her hair was brushed thoroughly and composed into the perfect half-knot, as it ever was. Her black armor weighed more heavily upon her shoulders than it ever had: whether because she missed her gold, or because she had lost the habit of wearing armor over the past weeks of convalescence, she didn't know. Perhaps it was a mix of both factors, if anything.
The sun was shining by the time she strode purposefully across the Palace, on her way to Xin Long's refuge. While servants gazed at her, some even daring greet her – and being stunned by her gracious responses, a rarity even when the Princess had become so much kinder over time –, none interrupted her. She was free to walk, with her own strength, to her dark dragon's residence. She didn't need any help today, nor any health checkups: she allowed herself to imagine, if just briefly, that none of the latest events had taken place at all, and that everything in her life was to return to true normality, starting today.
Xin Long greeted her with a huff and Azula smiled, raising her still shaky left hand towards her dragon: he pressed his face to her palm. Azula's fingers slid through his mane, stroking the strands of white-blue hair that her ever-present, cheerful companion rather enjoyed letting her tussle up whenever they met.
"Ready to go yet?" she asked, failing to suppress her heart's eagerness to reach Sokka's side. Xin Long chuckled and nodded, offering her his back: just as she had ordered the servants to help her ready herself for the day earlier than usual, she had ordered them to strap Xin Long's saddle onto his back for her. Weakened as she was, she couldn't possibly dream of doing it herself.
Still, she could climb aboard without needing assistance, and that was a good first step. She hoisted herself onto the saddle with her right hand, settling in her rightful place at the front seat, and once she was safely in place, Xin Long walked towards the nearest exit, tapping the lever to open a doorway at the ground level: as soon as the way was clear, the dragon trotted across the Palace's gardens and took to the sky, with a smiling rider clasping the reins despite it was needless to do so. Both knew the way to Sokka's house by heart, watching as the city spread before them once they flew past the Palace walls. The rows of villas and classy homes nearest to the heart of the city became less ornate as they made their way to the crater's outskirts, where a much humbler house stood… and yet, as simple as it might appear in anyone else's eyes, the mere sight of that two-story building could set Azula's heart alight with bliss.
"You can take off again for a few hours, if you want" Azula suggested, patting her dragon's neck gently as he landed carefully in the backyard: he had never been more cautious with his flights as he was these days. While Azula trusted he'd return to his usual, mischievous self eventually, her dragon's current, serious streak certainly would aid her in her recovery. Surely, once she was fully healed, he'd take to doing wild loops again, or to making fun of her and Sokka, as always… but for now he only smiled and nodded, encouraging the Princess to follow her heart as she ever did "Why, thank you, Xin. I intended to do so. I'm just saying… the fight is actually in the afternoon? I wanted to spend as much time preparing with Sokka, though…"
Xin Long huffed: why was she explaining her reasoning to him? He knew perfectly well she was always worried about Sokka's mental state both before and after fights, and this was but another way to ensure he would be in the right mindset for today's challenge.
Azula smiled, nodding as Xin Long lowered his body to ease her descent off his saddle. She slung her leg slow and carefully over the saddle before jumping lightly onto the grassy backyard. Before letting her go, however, Xin Long leaned close and dragged his tongue lightly over her cheek.
"Xin…!" Azula exclaimed, smiling in astonishment at her companion. Xin Long grinned cheekily and affectionately "And here I thought you were behaving yourself, huh, mischievous dragon…"
However she might try to scold him, Azula draped her right arm around her dragon's head, pulling him close to kiss his brow too. They lingered in that manner for a moment, letting the breeze pick up around them, as the sun's slow rise chased away the night's light chill gradually, slowly warming their tropical land.
Xin Long pulled away with a proud smile before trotting off and taking flight, searching beyond the crater for anything to eat. Azula watched him go, appreciating the inherent beauty of his silhouette against the brightening skies: he was a troublemaker for sure, a wild creature that did as he pleased… but he no less elegant and beautiful a dragon for it, and she was truly fortunate to have found and bonded with him.
Azula had a very important plan to enact right now, however, and she shouldn't waste another moment cherishing her surroundings rather than putting said plan into action: she didn't rush, but she still walked as fast as she dared inside the house, clasping the handrail at the stairs as she climbed, walking past the first closed door and making her way to the second. She smiled even before pushing it open, and the grin widened once she spotted her secret husband, sleeping shirtless on one side of the bed, his arm outstretched… he had left enough room for someone to join him, almost as though he had gone to bed imagining he held her in his arms. Azula couldn't help but wonder if that was the case…
Still smiling, she shrugged off her boots and armor. She even loosened her belt, casting it aside, as well as her hairpiece, before climbing into bed with him. He groaned softly, but he didn't seem to awaken: she settled on her right shoulder with her head resting on his outstretched arm as a pillow… and after a moment, his other arm slid over her waist. Azula held back from speaking, intending only to relax in his embrace… but as unpredictable as ever, Sokka hummed, pulling her closer to himself.
"Azula…" he whispered. Azula grinned: he wasn't awake yet, but he certainly had been wishing to hold her once he was, just as she had guessed.
She pressed a soft, simple kiss to his lips… and he responded in kind. Oh, he was adorable, even while he was unconscious. If only they could merely relax right here, and rest for days, or weeks instead… he truly tempted her to forsake everything she had ever privileged and prioritized, and she couldn't even resent him for that.
So she relaxed, their faces less than an inch away from each other's, their breaths mingling, their arms and legs locking the other in place. They rested for at least two hours, during which Azula dozed off with him, at such peace she could easily forget everything they would be facing that day, ever basking in the freedom of their shared haven.
Naturally, she only woke when Sokka did, relishing in a familiar feeling: his arm was dormant, just as much of his body had been, when they had woken together after consummating their love for the first time.
When had she arrived? He had no idea, but he could feel her near him, their souls resounding together, as he breathed in her smooth scent, caressing her body's curves with the hand that he had subconsciously draped around her earlier: a slow smile spread over his lips, for this was the very best way to wake up and start his day.
He pressed that smile softly to her lips, and that was how she came to: she grinned as well, responding enthusiastically to his affection, to the way his dormant arm, as weakened as it might be, now slid around her back fully, his hand's outstretched fingers stroking her hair. The kiss's intensity increased steadily, and while their hearts smiled indeed, their faces no longer could, engaged in that deep, heartfelt exchange. It was Azula who, forgetting to breathe upon losing herself in him as she had, tore her lips away from him with a delighted laugh, allowing Sokka to attack her exposed neck instead, pressing a myriad of kisses upon it as she held him closely.
"Good… morning" Azula said, breathily. Sokka chuckled, trailing his lips across her jawline.
"Better than good… because you were here. I woke up with you, Azula…" he laughed, nuzzling her neck "When did you get here, love?"
"Not long ago…? I don't know" Azula laughed "The sun was rising. I'd told you I'd try to do this… I knew you'd be in a better mood if you could wake up with me. That anyone feels that way about me is still a miracle, as far as I can tell, but…"
"Whatever you may think of it, it's no less true" Sokka beamed, raising his head to her level and trapping her lips in a happy, long kiss. Azula's hands held him in place, lengthening the contact as much as she could, and her heart still soared once he pulled away "Thank you, Azula. I didn't even realize I needed this but… I needed this"
"Heh. You do need all the help you can get to defeat Toph, that's all there is to it" Azula said playfully. Sokka's teasing smile was too tempting: she covered his mouth in kisses upon the sight of it, forcing him to roll on his back as her enthusiasm overwhelmed him "Which, well, brings certain thoughts to mind…?"
"Oh…?" Sokka smiled: Azula snickered as she tugged her tunic, and Sokka ran his hands over her thighs and flanks to help release her from its confines "Well, well. Need another chi-regeneration therapy session?"
"Why… interesting name for it, I will give you that much" Azula smirked: Sokka sat up to kiss her, beaming brightly as he took her into his arms again.
The noise drifting from their room was mildly muffled by the walls… but only mildly. Rui Shi groaned, stirring against Song before releasing a slow sigh. His fiancée, with her back towards him so far, turned in his arms and pressed her own naked body to his.
"She's here…?" Song asked, with a weak grin.
"Indeed… and I've heard more than enough of my charge's sexual cries to last me a lifetime" Rui Shi smirked "I should've woken up earlier…"
"No, you shouldn't have" Song pouted, holding onto him "We should just… do whatever we want, too. That way we can ignore them if we focus on each other…"
"How very greedy on your part" Rui Shi smiled, raising her face to kiss her lips "If this poor house could speak, I can only imagine what would it say about the horrors its inconsiderate occupants have subjected it to…"
"You worry too much" Song laughed, caressing his chest "But fine, fine, you do have to go to work… your shift's at noon?"
"Yeah" Rui Shi confirmed, kissing her brow.
"Then you need a proper breakfast to prepare for that" Song declared, grinning "Help me get it ready?"
"Definitely. If we make enough noise with frying pans and cooking utensils, we just might drown out their noise…" Rui Shi said. Song sighed.
"Nah. Doesn't work. I guarantee it" she said. Rui Shi rolled his eyes as she laughed.
"Then at least it beats staying in the neighboring room" he smiled, kissing her again "Shall we?"
The worst of the noise would only likely begin within ten minutes, give or take, so Song had time to dress up in her preferred, casual hanbok, while Rui Shi fished out one of his uniforms from her closet: he would keep several changes of clothes in the house ever since he had started spending nights with Song. He guessed that, sometime in the future, he wouldn't need to only keep a few changes of clothes within their room… for they would be relocating to the Earth Kingdom, and by then he was sure he'd be free not only to spend every night with Song, but to even marry her and still serve as Azula's guard. After all this time, all fears that he might lose his position as her guard over his attachment to Song seemed to be completely baseless: there was no one else she and Sokka would entrust their security to, as they had already assured him while they drew the plans for their impending future.
He walked hand in hand with Song to the kitchen, stepping loudly on the wooden floors in the hopes that they might creak loudly enough to cover up the predictable female moaning that had begun pouring out of Sokka's room. Rui Shi rolled his eyes, and Song laughed while pressing her face to his shoulder.
"We're not exactly in a position to complain, are we?" Song smiled "We basically did the same thing to Sokka last night…"
"There's no point of comparison, though" Rui Shi declared, proudly "Why do I say that? Well, I… don't know. But there isn't one. I refuse to acknowledge one"
His stubbornness compelled Song to laugh heartily, and he grinned at her reaction, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as they stepped into the kitchen.
As Rui Shi didn't need to leave too urgently, he could spend as much time cooking with Song as he pleased that morning… though the amounts of food she had decided to put forward that day did take him by surprise as he assisted her: a whole tower of dumplings, miso soup, fried fish, strips of roasted picken to accompany the rice bowls, even grilled ribs, and a seafood salad.
"So… I take it the idea is for Sokka to take a lengthy bathroom break before the fight?" Rui Shi teased her. Song scoffed.
"The idea is for Sokka to eat to his heart's content" Song clarified, with a playful grin "Azula isn't wrong, he's a mess whenever it comes to big fights. You'll say we're spoiling him too much, but…"
"You are"
"But he could use all the support we can give him, right?" Song finished, raising her eyebrows and grinning, challenging Rui Shi's smirk.
"I'm pretty sure the specific brand of support he needs is… eh, being given to him most generously already" Rui Shi said. Song rolled her eyes but smiled.
"Leave them be. They both need it, we've already talked about this" Song said, raising her head as though to challenge Rui Shi to question her words.
"Right, right" Rui Shi smiled, leaning closer to kiss her brow.
The massive feast was almost done – both Rui Shi and Song had snuck a few bites from the dishes to sample them – when the two transgressors appeared at the kitchen threshold, far more triumphant than they should have been so early in the day. Rui Shi rolled his eyes, scoffing with amused skepticism as Sokka entered the kitchen with the proudest grin on his face, carrying across his strong arms a Princess clad in a blue shirt she had evidently borrowed from him after their crime was fully consummated. She appeared embarrassed, to a fault, but not enough to ask him to set her down, apparently.
"I'm going to assume you're carrying her around just to pamper her, because I'm pretty sure her chi must be overflowing after… all that" Rui Shi said, gesturing in the direction of Sokka's room. Sokka snorted and laughed as he walked Azula to the nearest stool. Her face was red, and yet she was smiling brightly.
"She is a Princess, she deserves all the pampering in the world, and then some" Sokka decided, kissing the top of Azula's head.
"Don't worry, Rui Shi, I won't step out of here looking like this…" Azula promised, waving a hand carelessly in the guard's direction. He scoffed again.
"You'd better not" he said "Such careless shamelessness…"
"You could simply admit you have too much fun scolding us, you know?" Azula said, grinning. Rui Shi raised a skeptical eyebrow "You're not very good at pretending otherwise…"
"And what makes you think this is fun at all, Princess?" he asked, though there was an unequivocal hint of amusement in his voice.
Sokka chuckled at the playful argument between Azula and Rui Shi, shaking his head as he approached Song, helping her carry the many dishes to the table… only to realize then just how many there were indeed.
"Woah… this is all for today?!" he asked Song, beaming. She chuckled, patting his arm gently.
"Just… don't go overboard. You've already had plenty of self-indulgences as it is today" Song teased him "No need to do it again with food now, too"
"You too, Song? Really, I thought you were on our side…" Sokka teased her, poking her shoulder with a finger teasingly: behind them, however, Azula and Rui Shi's bickering continued still.
"That you really think I'm fooled is just laughable" Azula smirked, after yet another of Rui Shi's refusals to acknowledge his apparent amusement "Back in the day, you used to be a lot less talkative, and you always looked like you were about to throw up when confronted with the reality that Sokka and I… well, have far too much fun behind closed doors, to put it simply. Yet nowadays you always are ready to tell us how absolutely shameless we are…? It's almost like you even enjoy talking about it, from the looks of it…"
"Enjoy? What's there to enjoy?" Rui Shi huffed, joining Song and Sokka in bringing the rest of the dishes to the table.
"I think what he enjoys is the knowledge that they're getting back at me for it most nights, these days" Sokka smirked, sitting beside Azula as Song's cheeks reddened… and Rui Shi, despite his previous stern pretense, also blushed "That, I suspect, is the main factor that changed things…"
"Ah? Is that so? Do tell me more, Sokka…!" Azula smirked deviously, leaning towards her lover while challenging Rui Shi with a mischievous glare.
"Okay! I think it's time to have our very healthy breakfast now! The table's just… overflowing! Let's just eat before things go cold, right? Right!" Song smiled, picking up her chopsticks in hopes the others would follow her example…
And they did, though not before laughing inevitably after Azula and Sokka's masterful defeat of Rui Shi's accusations. He surrendered indeed, raising his hands defensively, as Azula rested with her head on Sokka's shoulder, chuckling while he embraced her proudly.
"See, we're already winning all fights today, there's no way I'll lose against Toph later" he said haughtily. Azula smirked, nudging his flank gently and making him squirm as she sat upright again "What?"
"Getting ahead of yourself, there, gladiator" she smiled "Come on, eat. We'll see if you're good enough to beat Toph sooner than you think, anyway"
Sokka grinned and nodded, offering his Princess one more quick kiss to the side of her head before digging into his special breakfast feast. He ate as ravenously as he wished, constantly complimenting Song for her culinary expertise, while offering Azula bites from the dishes he enjoyed most, even if she could get them for herself just fine. His constant care for her never failed to be heartwarming, for it was second nature for him. He grinned throughout the whole meal and sighed happily in satisfaction, a hand in hers, once he finally had his fill.
Rui Shi decided to take his leave by the time he, as well, finished eating: he would need a few hours of preparation before starting his upcoming shift. Yet instead of leaving without many words, this time he stood up and stared at the Princess and her gladiator with a small smile.
"You two are a pain in many ways, I've never hidden it" he said. Sokka bit his lip guiltily… whereas Azula only smiled cheekily "But even if that's true, I do hope you'll be successful today. You shouldn't lose your mind even if you don't win, but… I still remember the first time you fought Toph"
"Huh… though I guess what you remember is either accompanying us to the fight or accompanying us back to the Palace?" Sokka said "You didn't watch it, did you?"
"Of course not" Rui Shi shook his head "But I saw the Princess carrying you across those doors and… well, I feared the worst, for a moment. It's been a long time since then, though… a very long time. You're both much stronger than you used to be, and you know your business better than anyone, if that Race's result is to be taken seriously. So, what I'm saying is… the best of luck to you both today. You've come too far to falter now, I'd suspect…"
"Agreed" Sokka smiled "Thanks, Rui Shi. I'll do my best not to let you down!"
"Well, I'm not quite that invested as to be let down if you lose, but sure…"
"Whaaat? Oh, you're not trying to say you genuinely don't care whether I win or lose, are you?" Sokka gasped, as Rui Shi smirked and shrugged.
"Have I ever?" he said, matter-of-factly. Sokka yelped, and both the women in the room couldn't help but laugh at the exchange between their respective significant others.
"I… feel so betrayed now. Goodness, and I thought we'd made progress across these years, you and I… I'm absolutely disheartened" Sokka said, shaking his head and wiping fake tears from his eyes.
"Well, to be fair, Rui Shi's never had much interest in the League" Azula smiled at the former Captain of her guards "And after all the nonsense we've put him through, what he's just said is… well, too nice, I'd say. Maybe we don't even deserve such kindness…"
"Princess…" Rui Shi scoffed, as a slow smirk spread across the Princess's face.
"Still true that you've enjoyed the nonsense, whether you admit it or not" Azula grinned "Thanks for everything, though. We definitely wouldn't have come this far without you by our side. And… seriously, don't worry. I really won't step out of this house looking like this"
"Indeed, I'd hope you don't" Rui Shi smiled, shaking his head "At any rate, whether you succeed or fail, I probably won't be able to drop by until tomorrow, so try not to be too cumbersome for Song while I'm gone, alright?"
"Oh, Song loves us, she'll be fine" Sokka grinned at his roommate, who shook her head and smiled as she stood up too.
"See you in the Palace, or perhaps tomorrow?" Azula smiled at Rui Shi: he squeezed her right shoulder gently just before moving to the kitchen's threshold.
"Of course, Princess" he said, nodding in her direction: Song joined him by then, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he led her to the door.
"You'll have to take two shifts?" asked Song, biting her lip, once they reached the house's entrance. Rui Shi nodded.
"I'll probably be free by night, but it might be better if I simply come over tomorrow? As long as you think it's agreeable" he said, caressing her cheek gently with his gloved hand. Song nodded.
"Whenever you can come, you know I'll be more than happy to welcome you, Rui Shi" Song grinned "You shouldn't be careless about your work anyway. We'll be a lot freer to spend time together once we're living in, uh, Sokkazula Fortress, was it?"
"That goofball and his naming ideas, really" Rui Shi smiled, rolling his eyes and shaking his head as Song giggled "But yes, that will be magnificent, I expect. Waking up with you every day… that's a dream"
"One we'll see coming true very soon, I hope" Song smiled, cupping Rui Shi's face: he leaned in, kissing her softly "I love you, Rui Shi. Have a good day today"
"I love you too, Song. I hope those two won't be much of a handful for you while I'm gone" he smiled. Song chuckled and shook her head.
"I know how to keep them in line, no worries" she said, with one more kiss to his lips "I'll look forward to tomorrow, then"
"As will I" Rui Shi smiled.
He pulled away, raising a hand to caress her cheek, before turning to the door. Song watched him step away, raising a hand in farewell as he waved at her, smiling in that tender way he only ever did when he gazed at her… a smile that would be hidden away by the helmet he was setting in place as he started down the street. In the eyes of many people, he was but another soldier, one more intimidating Imperial Guard… but Song knew what hid underneath that helmet. She had known it for many years, and every day she cherished it more.
So she stood by the door, smiling as she watched him vanish through the streets, missing him already even if only a few minutes had passed since he had taken off. She only closed the door once she heard the creaking of the stools in the kitchen, and once she returned to them, she found that Sokka and Azula appeared to be finished with the meal by now.
"Oh, you're both done, then?" Song grinned "I'll put everything away…"
"Want help washing up?" Sokka asked, collecting the empty plates, but Song shook her head.
"Gladiators shouldn't do the dishes on their big day" Song grinned "What if you break something by mistake? And then you cut your hand…"
"I'd ask you to fix it for me. Easy, right?" Sokka declared, proudly. Song laughed and shook her head.
"Easy, of course" she said "Spare me the extra work, and just go relax for a while. As far as I know, that's what you ought to be doing right now?"
"I guess…" Sokka pouted, glancing at Azula. She smiled and shrugged, resting against the table.
"I won't get you up to any crazy business now, I promise" Azula said. Sokka's pout grew stronger.
"Well, then, that means the whole morning's going to be as boring as can be!" he complained. Azula laughed shaking her head, and Song grinned at him reproachfully from over her shoulder, by the sink "Here I thought I'm supposed to be in the best mindset for the fight…"
"And you will be, especially once you know that you can get more of what you want… after the fight" she said, smirking.
"What, immediately after?" Sokka asked, teasingly. Azula scoffed.
"I'd have to think about that…"
"C'mon. If I win, there must be a reward…!" he declared, pompously. Azula laughed, dropping her head against his chest, as Song sighed.
"You really should debate what you will or won't do after the fight when there's no one else around who can judge you for being perverts" Song smiled.
"Oh, we take no offense to the truth, don't worry about us" Azula said, tightening her arms around Sokka's waist. He chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to the top of Azula's head.
"Not like we'll tell you what we do or don't do after the fight, though… hey, Song! You should come watch the fight!" Sokka decided, grinning "Rui Shi isn't going to be home for a while, so… this could be distracting for you, right? And I don't think you've ever seen any of my fights before, have you?"
"Eh, I can't say I'm too eager to do that" Song laughed "The Gladiator League has always sounded… well, a bit too violent for my tastes? So… I don't know. Maybe I'll take you up on that sometime in the future? When you're not going up against one of your best friends?"
"Sounds fair" Sokka chuckled "Fine, then, fine. We'll get out of your hair now if you want. Breakfast was amazing, though! Thanks for that!"
Song smiled as the embracing couple stepped out of the kitchen. She guessed they still had a few hours to spare before needing to get ready for the big fight… though she wondered if they'd be reckless enough to tire out Sokka in that manner. Well, if they proved to be… she, certainly, had perfected the art of wearing earplugs on a daily basis long ago and she'd practice it again now, if need be.
And while there was no doubt the electricity between them beckoned the happy pair to act upon their impulses anew, they surprised Song, themselves and each other, by holding back throughout the morning: after spending a few hours lounging together in the living room, again discussing details about the future, long after Toph's fight had been dealt with, they finally made their way upstairs… but not to reprise their earlier fun.
"It's strangely nostalgic to wear my old outfits…" Azula was saying, as Sokka helped her dress up in the clothes she had discarded earlier "Feels like we're truly revisiting the past, to a fault, right?"
"Hmm, only, I didn't dress you up like this before my last fight against Toph" Sokka smirked "I kind of wish I had, not going to lie about that…"
"You got to do it shortly afterwards, you greedy man" Azula laughed, as Sokka finished stretching her tunic down, readying himself to fasten her belt around her waist: he snuck a quick kiss to her lips before doing so.
"I've got to wonder… if maybe this is what will ensure I win" Sokka bit his lip teasingly "No fancy weapons, no new inventions…"
"Ah, just the knowledge that you'll do whatever you want with me again after the fight? That's enough to make you fight at your best?" Azula smirked "Oh, if only I'd known…"
"Alright, alright, to be fair, I wasn't strong enough the last time… I think, anyway" Sokka smiled, kissing her brow next "But maybe I am now. And having your wholehearted support is only going to make me stronger still"
"If so… then I'm afraid you'll be beating Toph quite mercilessly out there today" Azula sighed dramatically. Sokka snickered, pressing their foreheads together "Because you have that support, for sure. You always will"
Sokka embraced her gently for a moment that proved itself too short for the two of them: he collected her black armor next, biting his lip as he readied himself to set it upon her shoulders.
"I'll be as careful as I can… though, honestly, you might be better off not wearing this for a little longer, you know?" he said "Your shoulder's still healing…"
"I have a reputation and an image to uphold…" Azula said, with a sing-song voice. Sokka scoffed, though he smiled a little while fastening the clasps of the black armor "Now, don't fret that much. It doesn't bother me that badly"
"Sounds like it still bothers you a bit" he said, cupping her cheek once he was finished.
"It's not a problem, I said" Azula smiled, clasping his hand in hers "I've recovered plenty as it is, Sokka. Mild discomfort over armor is… well, nothing, really. Your turn now, though: my gladiator must be impeccable today, for sure"
"Oh, yeah?" Sokka smiled, watching as Azula made way to his wardrobe, knowing exactly where to find each garment and accessory he ever wore for battle.
She fastened his waistcloth for him, leaving it to him to bandage his forearms as he ever did. Sokka collected his own armor and set it in place, but it was Azula who fastened the armguards, taking advantage of the opportunity to caress his strong arms while she worked.
"Well… I certainly will say, I missed out for a long time by not helping you out with this" Azula smiled, caressing his forearm affectionately once she was done with the fastening of the straps "Feels just right for a sponsor to take part in every stage of preparation for their gladiator…"
"Does it?" Sokka snickered, pressing his brow to hers "I know it might be ridiculous for me to say this, but… I'm proud of us, Azula. Of how far we've come since, well…"
"Since she pummeled you that first time?" Azula smiled. Sokka chuckled and shrugged.
"Or simply defeated me, that second time" he said "I guess I thought we wouldn't go up against her again for much longer than this, but… it's only right. There's only two hurdles between us and the ultimate fulfillment of our promise, right?"
"Toph… and Combustion Man" Azula said, nodding as she gazed at him warmly "You can take your time with him, though. You still have to figure out what to do to make the bombs usable in battle without setting off my father's alarms, so…"
"Yep. So much has happened I haven't even been able to think about that" Sokka sighed, shaking his head "Still… it feels like something big is ending, somehow? With how far we've come… I'm not saying I'm taking for granted I'll win, of course, but even if I don't, things will change a lot very soon, right?"
"Right" Azula smiled "Though… it almost sounds like you want to retire from being a gladiator?"
"W-well, I mean… if the time comes when I don't need to be one to stay by your side? I wouldn't mind dropping out of the ranking" he smiled "Standing with you matters more than anything else"
"Of course" Azula smiled "Well, whether you retire or not, you'll always be my gladiator. Like it or not"
"I'll always be yours, so yes, I like it" Sokka grinned "If I can do right by you, by fighting out there…? I'll do it, without hesitation. I'll do it for as many years as you need me to. I'll do it forever, Azula… because I'm your gladiator. I fight for you, my Princess, my sponsor, my wife, and you know I always will"
Azula grinned, leaning closer, resting her cheek against his breastplate. His arms slid around her body, holding her delicately in place, for just one more moment, one more chance to indulge in their love, their connection, before Azula called Xin Long and they took flight to the Grand Royal Dome… and as brief as the moment might have been, that gentle embrace eased their hearts, touching their souls, smoothing every doubt, every fear, and replacing them with certainty and courage.
Once it was time, the two lovers left the privacy of Sokka's room and walked together, hand in hand, to the backyard, where they waited until the dragon arrived. Shortly after he landed before them, a voice called them from the house:
"Good luck today, both of you!" Song called back to them, standing at the threshold of the house's backyard. Azula and Sokka turned to smile at her simultaneously, and Xin Long joined in with a toothy grin of his own.
"We'll be back soon, I hope!" Sokka said, grinning in her direction: he might have waved, if only his other hand weren't holding his helmet.
"And hopefully in one piece, too" Azula smiled, nodding at Song "See you later"
Song nodded back, grinning brightly as the pair climbed aboard the dragon's saddle. By now, Azula could make the movements far more easily, though Sokka still ensured to help her climb aboard. As soon as he was sitting safely behind Azula, all his weapons and armor accounted for and strapped to his body, the dragon took flight, towards the large Arena they had grown so used to visiting across the last years.
The crowd was a pandemonium outside the Dome already, not unlike how it'd been during Toph's fight against Combustion Man. Only, this time the dragon's arrival wasn't an unforeseen surprise: wild supporters of the Blue Wolf gathered at the steps of the Dome, and staff members attempted to reel them into their best behavior while forcing them to make enough room for the dragon to land. A round of applause and cheering already enveloped them even before Xin Long touched the ground, one that saw Azula laughing and smiling as Sokka nodded graciously at the wholehearted support.
"Well, they're wild today. Damn wild" he said by Azula's ear, unsure if she'd hear him – such was the noise of his many fans "I wonder if it's better for me to lose or win, considering how riled up they are…"
"I don't have to wonder: I know what's better, for sure" Azula smirked "Enjoy the love of the people, Sokka: you're their champion"
"Heh, not true: I'm yours" he said, smiling all too proudly as Azula bit back a heartfelt grin.
He climbed off the saddle first, offering his hand to Azula as she dismounted, despite she could step off Xin Long far more easily these days. Together they walked to the steps, smiling and nodding towards their wild supporters, all the way to where the staff members opened the doors to yet another bustling vestibule.
The people within the Dome bowed and Azula ordered them to stand: the curtsying was all too familiar, all too natural, at this point in time. Together, the Princess and her gladiator navigated the public, most of which were elated, more than the crowd in Toph and Combustion Man's fight, to see them today. There were plenty of masked supporters of the Blind Bandit… but no shortage of enthusiastic people bearing emblems with blue wolves across their clothes. Fortunately, even the most excited of them seemed to know better than to ask Sokka for autographs at the time, and they merely watched as the most popular duo of the Gladiator League finally stopped at Shoji's counter.
"Princess! Blue Wolf!" Shoji grinned brightly "It's always great to see you again… and for such a big milestone of a fight, too! Oh, I'm watching this one too, I can't miss it!"
"That's great to know" Sokka smiled "Though, try not to cheer too hard for your earthbending teacher, can you? It'll damage my confidence terribly…"
"W-wha…? I can't support either of you!" Shoji laughed, as did the gladiator and sponsor across his desk "I mean, not officially anyways. Though, w-well, if asked, the truth is, I…!"
"We know, we know, Toph would always be your favorite gladiator…!"
"N-no! I wasn't about to say that…!" Shoji squeaked, but Azula laughed and shook her head.
"No need to heed Sokka's nonsense, Shoji. Just sign us in" she smiled.
"Of course, Princess!" Shoji grinned, pulling out his forms as he ever did "What are your weapons today? The new ones you logged in, I suppose…?"
"Yeah, one disperser" Sokka confirmed "My black sword, my club, my boomerang and a bomb, too"
"Alright!" Shoji smiled, filling in the form before offering the inkbrush for Azula to sign her name in confirmation of the sign-in sheet "The best of luck for you both out there today. People say third time's the charm, right?"
"Eh… depending on who you ask, this is the… fifth?" Sokka reasoned "Sixth maybe, considering she started out fighting against me when we were in the Pairs Tournament too…"
"I guess Shoji might still be right, though" Azula reasoned "At least, if we follow your logic, it means we did win the third time around, as we won in the Pairs Tournament. Then you lost the fourth… and then we won the fifth"
"Oh, I wish I could've seen the Race!" Shoji said, smiling sadly "I've read the Chronicles about it like twenty times. It's the bestselling number so far! Everyone wanted to read about it, I think the Chronicles' sales alone have made up for all the investment of the whole event…"
"Wow. Impressive, and good to know. Yang must be delighted" Azula smirked "Well, then, Shoji… I guess we should be off now?"
"Yeah, you have about twenty minutes still. Will you go to the waiting room?" Shoji asked "The fight before yours ended pretty quickly, so you could head to the stand-by room already…"
"Well, if it's already over, the stand-by room sounds reasonable" Azula admitted, nodding "Let's do that, shall we?"
"Sure" Sokka grinned, raising a hand to wave at Shoji "See you later, Shoji. I hope you enjoy the fight!"
"I know I will!" Shoji grinned "Good luck!"
The Princess and her gladiator ever walked together to the stand-by room, a tradition begun long ago, in an Arena different from this one. Just as they started on their way downstairs, a staff member struggled to make it past the wild crowds pooling at the stands' archway, reaching the only occupied waiting room in the building and knocking on it clumsily.
He pushed it open without asking if it was alright to do so: the Dragon of the West didn't complain for it, pacing as he was, and neither did his gladiator, uncharacteristically silent and reflexive, sitting at one of the available cushioned chairs, her elbows on her knees.
"Uh… you can proceed to the stand-by room and the sponsors' balcony now" the young staff member announced, smiling awkwardly… before being forced to close the door hastily, once many lurking fans took to glancing inside, no doubt suspecting one of the two contenders of the day would be inside that very room.
"Oh, how times have changed" Iroh said, with a weak grin "It was much easier in the past, wasn't it? Toph was never a low-profile gladiator, but all this popularity sure can be taxing…"
"I imagine…" said the staff member, with a shy smile of his own "Though I've only started working here since a few months ago, so I wouldn't know how it used to be…"
"Ah, pardon me" Iroh laughed "Then we should go now, you say?"
"You may, of course, General Iroh" the staff member confirmed "Your opponents have already arrived, though the fight shall begin at the scheduled time regardless…"
"Naturally, naturally. We shall be ready soon, then" Iroh assured him, nodding. The staff member's smile gained confidence as he nodded in Iroh's direction.
The staff member retired quickly, if a bit clumsily, and he couldn't go too far from the waiting room before being crowded by the many enthusiastic fans eager to see Toph and to offer her their support. Iroh released a deep breath, allowing his amicable façade to weaken once the door was closed. He turned towards his gladiator, concern crossing his face.
"Toph…"
"I heard him, I heard him. I know" she said, releasing a breath and rising to her feet "Let's go"
"You're sure you can do this?" Iroh asked her, standing between Toph and the door "And I don't mean whether you're sure you've healed, or that you have the talent to win… I mean, perhaps you still need more time to let your mind recover after…"
"After losing a victory streak? Just how pathetic do you think I am?" Toph smirked, though Iroh could tell the gesture wasn't completely genuine "I'm fine, Iroh. I can go forward. It's just, well…"
"You're uncomfortable. Understandably so, I wouldn't feel any more reassured if I were in your shoes" Iroh sighed "They are, after all, your friends…"
"It's not just that" Toph admitted "You know it as well as I do, don't you? The last time I… the last time he and I fought here, even if I won, it was close. Until last week, it was the closest I ever got to losing… well, in an official match. The Race is another matter…"
"It is, indeed, another matter. You only need to worry about him here" Iroh said, placing his hands on her shoulders "He won't have Azula backing him up. You can defeat him, just as you have in the past"
"But he's not the fighter he was in the past. You know it, I know it, she knows it… he, himself, knows it" Toph mumbled "I'm not saying I can't win, or anything like that, but… I can't take for granted that I will. Especially after what happened with Combustion Man"
"Toph…"
"You'll… you'll be okay if I lose, right?" Toph asked, uneasy "Those two… they've had to lose against us many times so far. They're… used to it? Maybe? But… you and Azula, it's…"
"It's not something you should allow your mind to be plagued by right now, Toph" Iroh said, cupping her face in his hands "You, your safety, your wellbeing, are my priority. You are my gladiator… in many ways, my ward. You've become family to me. If you want to step away now… then say the word, and we shall. If you're not sure you can fight, we can stand down. But if you are… then I'll sit in that balcony and pray to every spirit that may hear me so you will claim victory over anyone who opposes you"
"Heh… well, good, I think" Toph smiled sadly "I just… don't want to disappoint you"
"You never do" Iroh said, reeling her in for an embrace "I thought it was a great honor to call you my gladiator… but it's a much greater honor to call you my friend"
Toph breathed deeply as she nodded, her face pressed to his shoulder. Iroh wanted to reassure her… to let her know he stood by her, no matter what came next. And even then, her heart was muddled with doubts she had thought she wouldn't experience anymore:
One loss, against the biggest gladiator in the League, hadn't been that hard to accept. It was natural, some might say, proof she still had much left to learn… but losing against someone she had beaten often before? It would only mean he had taken his career as a gladiator far more seriously than she had hers… that his training, preparation and hard work had paid off, where hers hadn't. Could she live with such a knowledge, such a possibility…? Being unable to catch up to the leader of a race was no laughing matter… but being surpassed by the runners you had left behind before wasn't a promising sign.
She didn't fear losing as badly as she had expected to. Now, knowing there was something else at the other side, Toph's heart was no longer so heavy with fear of failure… but if Sokka were to win, it would mean much more than just failure. For it would be yet another reminder, yet another confirmation, of the reality that she and Iroh had yet to reach a level of strength in their bond as gladiator and sponsor as to rival theirs… and as much as she wished she could deny that, she had no doubts it was already the truth.
Could this fight resemble the Race, then? Could it shape into the cumulative result of a long, strengthening partnership across four years? Was this what was at stake now? Was that why they would fight? To prove who of the two of them had reached their full potential since they had first crossed paths? For, if that was the case…
Toph snarled and pulled away, clasping Iroh's hands in hers. The old man gazed at her hung head with concern, her disorderly bangs covering her eyes.
"I told him… ages ago, that he wasn't even worth killing" Toph said. Iroh's eyebrows twitched at those words "If I'd listened to Xin Fu… I probably wouldn't be here now. Neither would he. And I don't regret it, Iroh. I feel… like this was going to happen, one way or another"
"Perhaps…" Iroh mused. Toph swallowed hard and nodded.
"I've given him someone to chase, to hunt after, for years" Toph said "He's become stronger for many reasons, I bet… but surely he always wanted to defeat me one day"
"And while it's good you're no longer so afraid of losing, Toph… you know you are capable of more today than you were when you last fought him here" Iroh said "You're a metalbender now, no less…!"
"I know. But even that might not be enough" Toph whispered. Iroh froze and frowned "I think I can handle it, if it's not enough… but that doesn't mean I won't fight as best I can, okay? I'll do everything I can think of… everything I must. If he expects me to back down and let him have it easy… well, he's damn mistaken"
"Indeed" Iroh said, releasing a relieved breath "You are even greater than you know, Toph"
"Heh, sounds like way too much greatness for someone to handle, if that's how it is" Toph grinned "Weird as it sounds, I'm just… not going blindly about this. I know now that I can lose. I know for sure that I can lose against him. But I'm not making it any easier for him to beat me, no question about it"
"Good" Iroh grinned "I trust you. I know you can do the right thing out there today, Toph"
"Well… I hope so" Toph smiled before releasing a long breath "Okay, then… guess it's time to go?"
"I guess so" Iroh said, offering her another quick hug.
"I'll do my best to make you proud today" Toph grinned as she pulled away. Iroh laughed, patting her shoulder as they walked to the door.
"I'm afraid I already am as proud as can be" Iroh smiled, opening the door… to find, indeed, an onslaught of fans eager for the Blind Bandit's nonsense autographs "Eh, and so are they, I suspect?"
Toph laughed, but shook her head, declining any autographs for the moment, to her fans' disappointment. She and Iroh walked together, helped by staff members, until they reached the stairs: Iroh stepped towards the flight that led upwards, and Toph filed to the next staircase instead.
"Go do your best, Toph! You will be amazing, I know it!" Iroh exclaimed. Toph smiled "You're the best earthbender in the world!"
"Right" Toph chuckled, and yet she didn't answer him with the same certainty he'd offered her: she stepped down the staircase, helped by the staff members who cleared the way for her, just as they had when she had faced Combustion Man… and she continued onwards, to the very basement of the building.
She could sense them, regardless of the noise: it was the two of them, alone, to the right corridor of the Arena. She was briefly tempted to make an appearance, to make fun of them for being so insatiable and reckless… but she stepped in the opposite direction instead. It was no time to play games, or to break their focus by messing with them. She intended to fight the right way today, and that meant she would respect Sokka and Azula, and their long-standing rivalry as best she could.
The Princess and her gladiator had walked each step to the stand-by room countless times in the past, but today they had taken more time to appreciate the muted opulence of these corridors as they approached the stand-by room. While the massive crowd appeared to be larger than life, enveloping the Dome as a whole, it was easier to forget about it in one of the only locations the enthusiastic public seldom approached: the sun glowed mercilessly on the sand, as was visible through the golden grid of the stand-by room, and the noise filtered through it just as well…
"They really haven't fixed the ceiling yet" Azula pointed out, stepping closer to the grid to gaze up at the Dome's tall roof: the staff had mostly cleaned the shards of broken glass that dangled off the ceiling's beams still, but it seemed they had yet to restore the magnificent dome-shaped glass at the roof that gave the building its name.
"It hasn't been that long" Sokka acknowledged, approaching his secret wife and placing his hands on her shoulders: he had left the helmet at one of the available benches for now, only intending to put it on once Azula had left "Besides, it's not much of a problem to fight under the sun's direct glare, so I'll be alright"
"If you say so" Azula smiled, turning in his arms: his hands fell to her waist, keeping her close, and he dared venture a quick kiss to further convince her not to worry "You… certainly do seem a lot more level-headed today than on any other occasion you confronted Toph"
"I guess?" Sokka smiled "I'm not the same idiot who thought you'd discard him because I'd failed you, and your dreams. I'm… an idiot who won't fail you, this time"
"So still an idiot? How little you think of yourself" Azula smiled, patting his cheek gently "I know the Race may have set a bad precedent for me saying this, but… I really don't mind the result so much? I doubt Toph will be all that merciless today, but if she is, protect yourself. Fight to protect your life, first of all, our dreams and ambitions can be secondary…"
"Hmm, I'll do my best to stay alive, no doubt, but…" Sokka said, with a lop-sided smirk: he clasped her hand in his, and an air of strength, of confidence, seemed to infuse him completely. Azula's breath caught as he gazed at her with those heartfelt azure eyes "But I must say, I fight for you, not for myself. We're a team, the best there is… and I didn't come all this way on my own. Without you beside me, watching over me, I'd never have come this far. There's never been a better sponsor…"
"And no better gladiator either" Azula smiled, leaning close to press her lips to his "Whatever happens out there now, never forget I'm proud of you. To call you my gladiator… to call you my husband, too"
"I'm just as proud of you, my amazing sponsor and beloved wife" Sokka grinned, taking her hand into his to press a soft kiss to her knuckles "We've come all this way… might as well go all out and show the world what we're made of, eh?"
"Indeed, we shall" Azula grinned: she pressed her brow to his, in that comforting gesture they ever relished in…
Naturally, that wasn't enough for either of them: a heartfelt embrace soon led into a deep, undying kiss, as the shroud of darkness within the stand-by room, ever a witness to their many mischievous escapades, kept them hidden away from the ferocious crowds that could be heard, chanting for Sokka, even now.
As unwilling as she was to part with him, Azula still dared step away after their kiss broke, smiling fondly at Sokka as she stepped towards the corridor's archway: their hands remained linked, and even when the fingers finally parted from the other, neither dared lower their arms yet.
"See you later, Sokka" Azula smiled. He grinned just as warmly, right back.
"See you, Azula" he spoke, his voice strong and unabashedly proud.
Just as the first time, just as many times before, she would head to the heights of the building, while he remained at its lowest point, yet the trust they had nurtured for years, the strength of a powerful bond that had stood against countless tests, had changed them profoundly. No matter how far away they might be from each other, they fought their every battle together: and as they spoke words they had spoken many times in the past, uttering each other's name with devotion worthy of heartfelt prayers, the two partners, lovers, soulmates parted ways for the moment, allowing time to continue ticking forward on the day of the most fateful rematch of all…
Azula climbed all the way to the sponsors' balcony alone this time, without needing anyone's support – the staff members did offer some assistance by helping her traverse the wild crowd, but she reached the second floor of the building safely, by her own strength. She pushed the door open and was unsurprised to find a balding man with silver hair fastened into a top knot already occupying one of the regal seats in the balcony. She breathed deeply and stepped forward, knowing he'd noticed her presence, heard her powerful strides with her boots… even then, he betrayed no intent to acknowledge her, and Azula knew exactly what that meant.
She took her seat beside him, as expected of her, despite she would have gladly put a thousand miles between herself and Iroh instead. And there she sat, fingers intertwined under her chin, as both she and Iroh waited in complete silence for the mandatory staff member to arrive, asking about the time limit. Iroh requested fifteen minutes: Azula conceded, and that was all they spoke as all pending preparations were finalized.
Instead of focusing on Iroh and his bitterness, however, Azula allowed her gaze to drift over the packed stands, the countless cheerful fans and their quaint outfits, even the banners they had hung on certain areas of the stands in support of their favorite fighters – some of Toph's fans had taken to covering up some of the half-fixed holes in the stands' railings with such banners, probably with the intent to make amends, to a fault, for the damage their hero's last fight had done to the building. Yet wherever someone might look, there would be wolf sigils, bandit masks, greens and blues clashing and colliding. What a different stage this had been, four years ago, when they had first crossed paths in front of a curious crowd who had hardly known the once-novel, now highly experienced combatants about to step into battle…
"Welcome one, welcome all! The most anticipated battle of the day is about to begin!" the megaphone man shouted, his excitement dwarfed by the screams of the crowd "The Grand Royal Dome has seen many incredible matches over the past weeks, but today, the greatest royal rivalry is rekindled! Once again, two of our most upstanding sponsors shall pit their fighters against each other, and the question of who shall be victorious this time is more difficult to answer than it ever has been! For, even after one loss against the might of Combustion Man, the Blind Bandit remains a force to be reckoned with! She has risen into becoming the strongest earthbender in the ranking, and with her metalbending skills, there are no doubts to be had that further greatness is within reach for this extraordinary fighter…!"
Hidden away in her own stand-by room, Toph's fists tightened as she stood before her golden grid, her head low. Whether he complimented her or insulted her, it made no matter: the only thing that mattered was that her personal gate creaked with the mechanical sound it ever did, allowing her to enter the stage of the biggest challenge she suspected she had ever faced…
"Give it up for the Blind Bandit, the earthbending menace who instills fear in the hearts of all who cross her path!"
Ferocious cheers and cries, as well as the drums that ever accompanied her into fights, carried Toph from the stand-by room and into the sand. She frowned heavily, her bangs covering her face, concealing it from most people's sight: even then, the tension in the set of her shoulders was clear. This wasn't a fight she would be taking lightly.
"And at the other end of the ring… a challenger who has maintained a winning streak for close to three years! After successfully claiming an extraordinary victory in the Gladiator and Sponsor Race, the best non-bender in the League faces his biggest rival today: will his streak continue onwards, or will the Blind Bandit prove to be an insurmountable wall for our Crown Princess's gladiator?"
The golden grid rose slowly, and a shiver ran down Toph's back as she waited… as her whole stomach appeared ready to up-end itself. No doubt this was a difficult fight, but she needed to calm down: it was only Sokka, her friend, her bitter rival, whom she had overpowered many times before, and losing against him today hardly meant she'd never be able to get even later. So why would each footstep he took into the sand send warnings shooting all over her body, heart and mind? How come was she literally shivering upon facing someone she knew was a goofball, a fool who loved his secret wife more than anything, a perfectly kind-hearted person who had even held back from knocking her out when he'd had the chance…?
But there was a confidence, a strength to each of his footsteps, that he had lacked in their last two fights in the Dome: he wasn't scared. It wasn't the confidence of a man who believed himself above failure… but of a man who knew failure wasn't the end. A man who knew what he was capable of… who had grown into a wholly different person, discarding the husk of that weak, broken man she had nearly killed in this same Arena, almost five years back.
"The Blue Wolf is out for blood, and there's no doubt he will fight with all his might against his long-time rival and contender! Can the underdog rise above all expectations, or will the Blind Bandit regain her mojo and defeat her fateful opponent in direct combat for the third time?"
So many cheers, loud and deafening: wasn't that detrimental for Toph? Sokka couldn't help but wonder as much as he stared at the earthbender before him: where she had once stood across him, arrogant, dismissive, proud of herself… today she was tense, nervous, as though she wanted nothing more than to turn around and run away. Sokka swallowed hard but stopped at a fair distance from Toph, studying her carefully. It didn't look like she was still in bad shape over her last fight, so was the noise genuinely bothering her? Or was it something else…?
"You okay?" Sokka managed to say, unsure if she would hear him over the noise. The twitch in her shoulders after he spoke suggested she did.
"All recovered. No need to worry about it, Dog" she answered, bluntly. Sokka swallowed hard.
"Alright, then" he said, breathing deeply as he took up his stance: his arms hung loosely, fingers more than ready to reach for a weapon, but he held back from doing so for now.
There would be no awkward conversation this time, no mockery of each other, no underestimating the opponent either: as soon as Sokka took a stance, so did Toph. The wild crowd's screaming cheers, the rival instruments of each gladiator's fanclub's band, and then the shouts of the megaphone man, nearly dwarfed by every other sound…
"A fight for the ages, a combat between the top earthbender and the top non-bender of the League begins in three…!"
Yet again, the crowd joined in the countdown: Sokka's fingers swayed impatiently, while Toph's fists tightened.
"TWO!"
Azula's heart raced, and it was surely an unhealthy thing for her, but she couldn't help herself. Her silent rival beside her was no better off, visibly shivering with anxiety…
"ONE!"
For just that brief moment, Azula allowed herself to think she was with him, in the ring, just as she had been there with him in the Race. And just so, Sokka's heart seemed to swell at the knowledge, the awareness, that she stood beside him, come what may. No matter the distance between them, no matter the dangers ahead… they were one.
"START!"